Using bioengineered fat cells to fight cancer
Official title: Bioengineering adipocytes for cancer therapy
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11055342 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how scientists can change fat cells to work more like a type of fat that helps fight cancer, using special technology to boost their ability to manage sugar and fat in the body, which could lead to new treatments for cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $643,369 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283826-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11055342 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cancers that are responsive to metabolic interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not rely on glucose and fat metabolism for progression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bioengineering white adipose tissue (WAT) can enhance its function to mimic brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is known to suppress tumor growth. By utilizing CRISPR technology, researchers aim to activate specific genes that improve the fat and glucose metabolism of these cells. The goal is to create adipose organoids that can be used in cellular therapy to inhibit cancer cell growth. Patients may benefit from this innovative approach as it could lead to new treatment options for various cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel cancer therapy that utilizes modified fat cells to inhibit tumor growth.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using metabolic manipulation in cancer therapy, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahituv, Nadav — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ahituv, Nadav
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.